Rebounding Concerns vs. Pitt

[MauraDay]

According to espn.com, Pitt ranks 1st in the country in rebounds per game. Marquette ranks 93rd. I am hoping I am not screaming too much at the tv as Pitt gets offensive rebound after offensive rebound...

[MarquetteDano]

According to espn.com, Pitt ranks 1st in the country in rebounds per game. Marquette ranks 93rd. I am hoping I am not screaming too much at the tv as Pitt gets offensive rebound after offensive rebound...

Also, according to Pomeroy, the number one offensive rebounding percentage team in the country.  They rebound a ludicrous FORTY-SEVEN PERCENT of their misses.  Unfortunately, I think it is going to be a long night on the boards versus Pitt.  You have to figure Fulce should get twenty minutes on Saturday.

It is going to be tough one to win.  I hate to be pessimistic but not liking the matchup here at all.

[marquette99]

Agreed.  It was awefully bad last year even at home with lazar.  We just get so few rebounds from our centers.  We could give up on rebounding and go small for steals or try fulce, crowder, butler, a center and blue when djo is resting to really go big at them, but no combination looks real good.

[karavotsos]

They're a bunch of s--t brickhouses.  I'm pretty sure Richardson had some big plays inside against us last year, and looking at their stats he hasn't played in 3 games.  McGhee is freakishly large.  Taylor, from what I've seen, pretty much just wants to rebound and do nothing else.  That new Zanna is big.  Even one of their guards, I think its Robinson, looks like an upper weightclass prizefighter.

When I watch, it seems like their guards do just enough to keep up and not turn the ball over.  Always hated Wannamaker.  Never been as impressed with Gibbs as some people.  He can shoot a college 3; big whoop.  Woodall makes bad decisions.  But all they have to do is shoot.  If they miss, they miss.  That's when the offense starts.

Hopefully, Buycks plays.  We have to at least stand up to their physicality.  Get as many fouls as we can get and take advantage of mismatches.  It will definitely be a contrast of styles game.  Otule and Gardner will learn some things about Big East play.

[willie warrior]

Not to worrry. According to many here, Otule is a stud at clearing the lane and blocking out, and not allowing his men to get offensive putbacks.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Not to worrry. According to many here, Otule is a stud at clearing the lane and blocking out, and not allowing his men to get offensive putbacks.

Nobody said he's a stud.  Just that he's better at it than Gardner at this stage of their careers.  To argue otherwise is plain stupid.

[muchamps]

I've been called worse. But,Gardner is a better rebounder and a true offense scorer and does much better at blocking out than Otule. With Otules inability to catch and shoot, there is no question who should be starting. Coach is leaving 20 points a game on the bench. If its for Otules defense and blocked shots, its a bad trade,I believe Buzz will recognize this and Gardner will eventually be starting.  

[Stretchdeltsig]

Sounds like we will need to play big against Pitt.  More minutes for Otule and Gardner. 

[warthog-driver]

I've been called worse. But,Gardner is a better rebounder and a true offense scorer and does much better at blocking out than Otule. With Otules inability to catch and shoot, there is no question who should be starting. Coach is leaving 20 points a game on the bench. If its for Otules defense and blocked shots, its a bad trade,I believe Buzz will recognize this and Gardner will eventually be starting.  

Gardner takes up space in the paint but plays revolving door defense...

[NavinRJohnson]

I am going into this one fully expecting Pitt to win comfortably. If MU is able to rebound with them, makes it a game, or somehow steals a win, I will be more than happy to take it as a sign of good things to come.

[willie warrior]

Nobody said he's a stud.  Just that he's better at it than Gardner at this stage of their careers.  To argue otherwise is plain stupid.

Way to start calling names, Atlanta Warrior
Your subjective opinion: Otule is better at it than Gardner
Fact: rebounds per 40 minutes: Otule: 8.3
                                           Gardner: 10.4
Guess what: According to the stats, Gardner is 25% better in rebound average than Otule.
But hey, we do not want facts to get in the way of opinions
Just the facts man, just the facts

[ATL MU Warrior]

Way to start calling names, Atlanta Warrior
Your subjective opinion: Otule is better at it than Gardner
Fact: rebounds per 40 minutes: Otule: 8.3
                                           Gardner: 10.4
Guess what: According to the stats, Gardner is 25% better in rebound average than Otule.
But hey, we do not want facts to get in the way of opinions
Just the facts man, just the facts

who called you a name?  Try to read the words that are written. 

Nice stats.  Try to find some that support your oft-repeated claim that Gardner is better defensively than Otule.  Or better yet, for the 2nd time, here is a request for you to spell out all the ways in which Gardner is better than Otule on defense.  please list them all.   That would be great. 

Neither Otule or Gardner are perfect.  I am glad that both are on our team and look forward to them both getting better.  At this point, I think Otule brings more to the position.   

[willie warrior]

who called you a name?  Try to read the words that are written. 

Nice stats.  Try to find some that support your oft-repeated claim that Gardner is better defensively than Otule.  Or better yet, for the 2nd time, here is a request for you to spell out all the ways in which Gardner is better than Otule on defense.  please list them all.   That would be great. 

Neither Otule or Gardner are perfect.  I am glad that both are on our team and look forward to them both getting better.  At this point, I think Otule brings more to the position.   

talk about a pissing contest:
Def. rebounds 7.8 per 40: Gardner 5.4; Otule 5.0
Fouls per 40 minutes: Gardner 5.4; Otule: 7.8
Steals per 40: Gardner: 1.0; Otule 1.0
I have repeatedly said that Otule is a better shot blocker
So by the above defensive stats, you cannot say that Otule is better defensively: Gardner is a better rebounder, less of a foul liability, and not as good a shot blocker.
Look at the offensive stats, Gardner is far superior.
My point is Gardner makes more things happen, is better offensively, is a better passer and should be getting more minutes. Statistics prove that. You are entitled to your opinion.

[tower912]

Gardner can't race down the floor 3 straight times.   He can't rotate to front or 3/4 his man when the ball rotates.   Unfortunately, there is no way to quantify how many rebounds you prevent your man from getting.  No doubt he is better offensively.    Love his passing, love his hands.  He has a higher upside than Otule but for now Buzz is playing them correctly.    Maybe next year, with a year of conditioning, he can start and Chris can come off of the bench as a defensive big.   And we have rebounding concerns against everybody.   They are just more strongly brought into focus against Pitt, which gets so much of its offense off of offensive rebounds.

[bilsu]

According to espn.com, Pitt ranks 1st in the country in rebounds per game. Marquette ranks 93rd. I am hoping I am not screaming too much at the tv as Pitt gets offensive rebound after offensive rebound...

Easy problem to solve. Just let them score on the first shot.

[g0lden3agle]

Easy problem to solve. Just let them score on the first shot.

I'd prefer to solve it by limiting them to the fewest shots they've taken all year.  Definitely something we could go for with how we stretch our D so aggressively.

[rocky_warrior]

They're a bunch of s--t brickhouses.  

Pet peeve, the correct usage is brick sh*thouse - I'm not sure what the former is. 

[MUfan12]

Pet peeve, the correct usage is brick sh*thouse - I'm not sure what the former is. 

The Big 10 in bowl games? They seemed to sh*t bricks quite often this year.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Pet peeve, the correct usage is brick sh*thouse - I'm not sure what the former is. 

It's how Yoda would say it....s*#t brickhouses we shall use

[Nukem2]

Actually, MU was only outrebounded 33-30 last year at the BC.  The real problem is Pitt's physicality, including its backcourt.

[karavotsos]

Pet peeve, the correct usage is brick sh*thouse - I'm not sure what the former is. 

An homage to a previous misusage and an attempt to compliment Pitt a little less. 

I was thinking, do you primarily not play Otule or Gardner and just mismatch as much as possible in this game.  Go speed v size.  Buzz has some interesting decisions to make. 

And the former would be a structure made of sh-t that houses bricks.  Doesn't make a lot of sense.  If Kobe Bryant won the NBA title this year, maybe he would call Shaq a s--t brickhouse in a joke that fell flat on the Leno show.  Thats how stupid flipping the saying is, and I used it.  Unfortunate for me.  Can't argue with you for calling me out.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

McGhee is good under the basket...REAL good. He's gotta be licking his chops for this game. We may get a final decision on who's better on defense, Otule or Gardner. Won't be surprised if the answer is none of the above. 

Small ball may be the way to go here.

GO MARQUETTE!!